Colonel Matthew E. Jones

Colonel Matthew E. Jones is the Commander, 101st Air and Space Operations Group (AOG). He is responsible for the approximately 400 Title 32 Florida Guardsmen that staff and support the 601st Air Operations Center (AOC), Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 601 AOC plans, directs, and assesses air and space operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). The AOC provides aerospace warning and control for NORAD Defensive Counter Air activities, as well as directing Air Force air and space capabilities in support of USNORTHCOM homeland security and civil support missions. The 601 AOC fills the critical need to meet the challenge of directing all air sovereignty activities for the continental United States and is the new-age combat weapon system needed to fulfill that crucial defense role by remaining vigilant 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Colonel Jones was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn., in November 1998. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas. He is a Command Pilot with more than 2,600 hours of operational experience in the F-16 and served as an instructor pilot and mission commander with the 183d Fighter Wing, Springfield, Ill., and the 187th Fighter Wing, Montgomery, Ala. Colonel Jones has supported over 70 combat missions and flown more than 320 combat hours in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. He has also deployed in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

(Current as of November 25, 2019)